When you are selling your home, you might want to hire a listing agent. A listing agent is a real estate agent who helps homeowners sell their home. A listing agent has many duties and responsibilities, but the most important is listing the home! A listing agent will place your home on the multiple listing service (MLS) and help to negotiate the best price and terms possible for you.

How to choose a listing agent

Choosing a listing agent is similar to an interview process. You want to be sure you are choosing the right person for you, someone who you are comfortable with and someone you believe will get the job done. Find a few listing agents you think would be able to get the job done and ask some questions to see if they’re right for you. Some questions you may want to ask your listing agent are:

How many homes have you sold in the area, and how long did it take you to sell those homes?

Is this your full-time job?

Are you planning any vacations? Do you have someone to take over for you if you are going on vacation?

At what price do you sell most of your homes?

Do you have any recommendations for photographers, contractors, or other similar companies?

How often can we get in touch, or are you easily accessible?

Keep in mind, there are other questions you can ask. If you think of anything that is a burning question, ask it! You’ll want to know everything before signing on with a listing agent.

How listing agents help you sell your home

After you find a listing agent, your agent will help you determine a price to set your home at. The agent should give you a detailed marketing plan, which will map out how they will get the property sold. The plan should include:

Recommendations for any home improvements that should be done, as well as if staging your home if necessary

Having photos taken of your home, either by the agents themselves or by a professional

Having your home added to the MLS

Planning and executing open houses

Coordinating times to show the home to prospective buyers

Once you get an offer, listing agents will help you determine whether or not you need to negotiate to get a better offer. While you might want to outright refuse an offer you deem is too low, a listing agent will help you talk to the buyers and might be able to bring the price offered up a bit.

How listing agents get paid

Listing agents only get paid if the house sells. Typically, once a home sells, a listing agent will get paid 6% of the price of the home.

Quick Links

LEGAL

This site is not authorized by the New York State Department of Financial Services. No mortgage solicitation activity or loan applications for properties located in the State of New York can be facilitated through this site.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT

Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.